Dyslexic student from Belle Chasse racks up achievements

Life is harder for some than others. All of his 19 years, Dustin Miller has had to work harder than the average person to achieve his goals. Dustin has dyslexia, but he has never let it stop him.

Dustin Miller reports to his new job at Bayou Barriere Country Club in Plaquemines Parish. He is doing maintenance on the golf carts.

You may remember a while back I did a story about Dustin's work on his Eagle Scout award. He planned and planted a garden around a flagpole at the sheriff’s shooting range in Myrtle Grove. He carried out the task to the qualifications of the board and was awarded his Eagle award, the highest rank a Boy Scout can earn. This is a hard award to achieve because it involves soliciting funds, donations and physical help from others as well as planning and organizing. It is a huge undertaking.

He has had part-time jobs since high school to help pay for his extracurricular needs. He just started a new job after school working at Bayou Barriere. He does maintenance on the golf carts. He and his younger brother, Brandon, are being raised by their mother, Rhonda Miller. They are the grandsons of Frank and Pat Ranatza. All of them live in Belle Chasse.

Dustin graduates in May from high school and has succeeded without any special help. He has had all regular courses and no tutors. He smiled as he said, "Oh, I did attend classes to help me with my dyslexia. The classes were put on by the Masons. That’s all I had."

He is very proud to have just been inducted into the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree. This is a group which operates inside the local Knights of Columbus and is dedicated to church and country.

After graduation, he hopes to attend Delgado Community College to study refrigerator and air conditioner repairs. He will work to pay his own way.

All the best to you, Dustin in everything you do. Keep up the hard work. You are fantastic.

Congratulations goes out to Deputy Chief Michael Lafrance on receiving the 2012 Officer of the Year from the Optimist Club of the Westbank. The award was given at the awards banquet held at the Four Columns. This award is given for outstanding law enforcement service to the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office and the community.

Deputy Chief Michael Lafrance, congratulated by his mother, Lorraine Lafrance, was named 2012 Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office Officer of the Year by the Westbank Optimist Club..

Sheriff Lonnie Greco and several members of his administration attended the event. Greco said, "It is an honor and privilege to have such a dedicated and fine officer under my command. Deputy Chief Lafrance goes above and beyond the call of duty every day and is a role model to those who serve with him. In August, he lost everything during Hurricane Isaac, but continues to show never ending dedication to the community and the department he serves."

Thanks to Lafrance and all those in the department who serve and protect.

The Pointe-a-la-Hache ferry landing has been closed indefinitely as it has been deemed unsafe by the Department of Transportation and Development. The parish has been ordered to shut it down immediately.